7.

~LIAM.

All eyes were on me, but my focus? Entirely on her. That green-eyed little spitfire sitting stiffly next to her pathetic excuse of a boyfriend.

I leaned back, letting my gaze linger on her longer than necessary, just enough to make her squirm. And squirm she did, her hand tightening around Jake's like she was holding on for dear life.

But what caught my attention more was Jake. The idiot couldn't hide his nerves if he tried. His eyes kept darting toward Natalie, unable to decide where to look, while she kept licking her lips like a desperate dog. Pathetic.

Beside me, Natalie was clinging to me like a fucking parasite. "Liam," she purred. "are we playing or just watching the show?"

I pushed her off, brushing her hand away like it was an annoying fly. "Not now, sweetheart."

She pouted, but I didn't care. She wasn't why I was here. She was just the ticket into this ridiculous couples' game. My real focus was walking out of the double doors with Jake.

I got to my feet.

"Where are you going?" she whined.

"Back in a minute."

I didn't bother to explain. She wouldn't get it, and I had no time for babysitting. Green Eyes was leaving, and I wasn't about to let her slip through my fingers.

Exiting the hall, I found her standing on the edge of the patio, staring out at the ocean. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself, looking like she was trying to outrun a storm. Jake was nowhere in sight, and that was just perfect.

"You always run away when things get messy?"

She jumped at the sound of my voice, spinning around to face me, and her arms tightened around herself even more. I couldn't help but notice how tense she was.

"What do you want?" she snapped, but there was uncertainty in her voice. I liked that.

I leaned against the railing, letting my eyes wander over her. "Just talk. That's all."

She didn't move, but I saw her jaw tighten. "I've got nothing to say to you."

Pushing off the railing, I closed the distance between us, leaving her no room to back away "Is that so?" I smirked. She was trapped now.

"Stop getting in my space," she hissed, pressing her palm against my chest. But it was more a suggestion than a push. I didn't budge.

I chuckled. "Your space? Nah. Thought we were sharing this lovely view."

Her glare hardened, but then something seemed to click in her mind. She lifted her chin and asked, "Who's the woman with you? Is she your girlfriend?"

I raised an eyebrow, momentarily caught off guard. But then the smirk I couldn't hide spread across my face. "You jealous, Green Eyes?"

Her face flushed, but she quickly recovered, brushing me off. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm not jealous. I was just... curious. She doesn't seem like the faithful type."

That caught my attention. The edge in her voice—this wasn't just idle curiosity. I leaned in a bit closer. "What makes you say that?"

She hesitated, her lips parting as if unsure whether to continue. But then she squared her shoulders and said, "Let's just say women like her don't inspire loyalty."

I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face. My curiosity piqued, but I didn't dig deeper. Not now.

I stepped even closer instead , my breath mingling with hers, ensuring she knew I wasn't backing off. "You've got a hell of a lot to say for someone pretending she doesn't care."

Her breath seized as her hand pressed against my chest, but it didn't do much to stop me. I laughed softly.

"You've got a lot of nerve for someone who doesn't know when to back off," she shot back.

I chuckled darkly. I liked how she fought back. Not many had the guts to do that.

"Guess that's where we're different," I said, taking a small step back to give her space to breathe. But I wasn't done. "You asked me before how I know Jake," my tone dropped to something darker. "If you really want to know, show up tonight. Private cabana by the east beach. Ten o'clock. And make sure you're dressed to impress."

She froze, that defiance slowly being replaced by confusion and curiosity. For a second, I thought she might turn me down flat, but then—of course—she wouldn't. Not when the invitation was so... tempting.

I turned to leave, but I heard her voice call after me.

"You're crazy if you think I'm going to show up."

I didn't bother responding. Let her think what she wanted. She would show up. I knew it.

*****

I didn't go back to the activity hall. Natalie had served her purpose, and I had better things to take care of.

Walking toward my suite, I spotted Jake. His eyes met mine—fear? Guilt? It didn't matter. I could sense his arrogance from a mile away, but deep down, I knew he wasn't as sure of himself as he pretended to be.

He opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but I didn't give him the chance. I walked past him deliberately, my shoulder brushing his.

"Hold on to her while you can, Jake" I muttered under my breath. "It won't last."

From the corner of my eye, I caught him flinch, but I didn't bother looking back. I wasn't here to entertain him, at least, not yet.

Entering my suite, the silence welcomed me. I walked toward the walk-in closet, the lights flickering on as I passed.

In the corner, a vase concealed a hidden switch. I slid my hand around the base and pressed the mechanism. A soft click echoed as a section of the wall shifted, revealing a door. I pushed it open.

Stepping into the room, the scent of metal and leather filled the damp space.

My hands reached for the gloves on the table, sliding them on. I paused, scanning the room before finally turning to my guest, who was hanging from the ceiling, bound by chains.

"Where were we?" A dark smile spread across my lips.